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Phillip Buchanon, Devin Thomas handle returns

One question the Redskins refused to answer in the week leading up to Sunday's season-opener concerned the team's return specialists.

The Redskins had used only two punt returners in the preseason, but Terrence Austin was assigned to the practice squad and Brandon Banks was inactive Sunday night.

When Dallas punter Mat McBriar took the field toward the end of the Cowboys' opening drive, Washington special teams coach Danny Smith called on cornerback Phillip Buchanon to return the punt.

Buchanon actually entered the game three times on special teams but didn't return a single punt. McBriar had a touchback, one punt that went out of bounds and another that his teammates downed on the Redskins' 5-yard line.

Washington's kick returner was also a question mark, and the Redskins didn't get a chance to answer that one until the start of the second half. Receiver Devin Thomas entered Sunday night's game for the first time on the kickoff that opened the half. He caught the kick a yard into the end zone and ran it out to the Redskins' 34-yard line, nearly breaking it entirely.

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